Liberal Leadership Race Gains Two

The Liberal leadership race warmed up this week with two new contenders throwing their hats into the ring.

MP Joyce Murray, who represents the riding of Vancouver-Quadra in B.C., announced Monday that she was running to lead the party, partly on a platform of cooperating with the NDP and Greens to oust the Conservatives.

Murray wants to start talks on electoral reform, legalizing marijuana, and carbon pricing.

MP Marc Garneau, who represents Westmount-Ville-Marie in Montreal, made his leadership bid official Wednesday after weeks of hints and near-announcements.

The former astronaut is running on an economic platform, promising a “relentless focus” on building a creative, knowledge-based economy.

“How we propose to deal with the economy will be crucial, not only for our party’s fortunes but for the future of our country,” said Garneau.

Garneau and Murray have an edge over many other leadership contenders, thanks to their profile as sitting MPs. The race has attracted few well-known challengers save Justin Trudeau, MP for Papineau, also in Montreal.

Trudeau is widely seen as a frontrunner. He and lawyer Deborah Coyne are the only candidates officially recognized by the Liberal Party so far, having made the $25,000 first installment of a $75,000 entry fee.

All candidates have until Dec. 15 to pay the remaining $50,000 of the fee.

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